There was a very interested onlooker last night at the National Stadium for Jamie Conlan’s knockout victory – Chester’s former IBF bantamweight champ, and future Conlan foe, Paul Butler.

Frank Warren, Boxnation, and MGM have had a long-term plan for the super flyweight duo to meet in 2016 in a World title eliminator or even a full World title shot – and the gentlemanly rivalry is getting more intense by the day.

Butler was interviewed by Boxnation following Conlan’s fourth round stoppage of late replacement Adrian Dimas Garzon, and gave his thoughts on the Belfast man’s showing, saying that “he boxed well, I thought he would get it done within the first three rounds but when he upped the gears in the fourth he got rid of him – it was a good performance.”

“The kid wasn’t as good as Granados but you’d expect that when it’s not for the title [WBO Inter-Continental].”

When queried on how he plans to beat Conlan when the two finally meet, Butler was frank, explaining that “I just think I’m the all-round better fighter, that’s the simple fact.”

“I think everything he does I do a little bit better.”